Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Sunday the government had introduced significant visa reforms to facilitate foreign investors, business community and tourists.

He said the step would help promote tourism, boost foreign investment and increase trade activities in the country.

In a statement, the prime minister, terming the initiative a highly positive development, said the government had approved visa-free entry for businessmen from Gulf Cooperation Council countries, which would increase investment and business opportunities from these countries.

The businessmen, investors and tourists of 126 countries would be issued visas within 24 hours through an online system, he said and added that the traders and tourists from such countries would be exempted from visa fees.

The visa policy reforms are expected to make Pakistan an attractive destination for foreign individuals in terms of business and tourism.

The prime minister highlighted that special arrangements had also been made for Sikh pilgrims having passports from a third country to obtain visas on arrival.

Electronic gates would be installed at Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad airports to facilitate travellers, he said and added that a dashboard would be established at the interior ministry to monitor the implementation of the new visa regime, including visa-free entry, business visa list and tourist visa on arrival.